The new semi-autos enable you to make routine shots on targets moving up to 15mph out to ranges of more than one half mile. The new precision-guided semi-autos connect via WiFi to TrackingPoint’s newly introduced ShotGlass™ shooting glass technology. The Google Glass™ of hunting and shooting, ShotGlass™ enhances your precision-guided shooting experience via a built-in camera and high definition video display.

“The new semi-auto models were designed for several missions including wild boar eradication, predator control (including coyotes), whitetail hunting, homestead defense, and precision target shooting,” said TrackingPoint CEO John Lupher. “Precision-guided semi-automatic rifles are the game changer. Routinely making extraordinary shots at extreme distances on moving targets is a thrilling experience.”

The new semi-auto Precision-Guided Firearms are based on TrackingPoint’s breakthrough Tag-and-Shoot™ system. Tag-and-Shoot frees the shooter from common errors caused by jitter and trigger jerk. With Tag-and-Shoot, ballistics are calculated automatically and the need to estimate shot hold-over is eliminated, enabling you to successfully eradicate moving targets at extraordinary distances. Third party testing validates that Precision-Guided Firearms enable you to shoot better than the best shooter that ever lived.

TrackingPoint is offering three new semi-auto precision-guided rifles: a 5.56 caliber with one-third mile range at up to 10MPH target velocity for $7,495; 7.62 caliber with half-mile range at 15MPH target velocity for $14,995; and a brand new .300 WM with half-mile range at up to 20MPH target velocity for $18,995. To learn more go to www.Tracking-Point.com

About TrackingPoint

TrackingPoint based in Austin, Texas created the first Precision-Guided Firearm, a revolutionary new shooting system that puts fighter jet lock-and-launch technology in rifles, enabling anyone to make extraordinary shots on moving targets at extreme distances. www.tracking-point.com.

Published: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 11:19 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 at 11:19 a.m.

It’s just a steel tube with some baffles that screws onto the end of a threaded barrel.

They’re legal for civilians to own in Florida and 38 other states.

A suppressor can lower the decibels produced by a .22 pistol from 157 to around 116 dB.STAFF PHOTO / MIKE LANG

They are by far the most popular item regulated by the National Firearms Act, which also controls short-barrel rifles and shotguns, as well as fully-automatic firearms.

Suppressor sales have skyrocketed nationally. Last year, they increased 37 percent over 2012. Hundreds of thousands are being sold.

Now, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is considering allowing sportsmen to use suppressors for hunting.

It’s already become a trend nationally.

There are 32 states that allow hunters to use suppressors, and a few like Florida that are considering new legislation.

It’s a good move.

Suppressors allow plinking without hearing protection, and without disturbing the neighbors. Some trainers use them to introduce new shooters to the sport, so they can become accustomed to shooting before experiencing the muzzle blast.

For most suppressor owners though, they are just plain fun to shoot.

They don’t “silence” a firearm’s report, they “suppress” it a bit.

An unsuppressed 9mm handgun produces around 160 decibels. Suppressed, it creates only 126 decibels. According to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the “pain threshold” begins at 140 dB, so it’s a substantive drop.

Lee’s note: Here it is — specs, pics and video of the Salvo 12, the world’s first commercial shotgun suppressor from SilencerCo.

MSRP is around $1,400. No modification is needed as it screws in to the choke tube threads.

And yes, it looks better than the one in that movie.

Here’s the press release:

Utah Company Releases First Commercial Shotgun Suppressor

WEST VALLEY CITY, UTAH – July 22, 2014 | Confirming its place as a trailblazer in the firearms industry, suppressor manufacturer SilencerCo has unveiled the first commercially-viable shotgun silencer ever produced. The company made the announcement today at an exclusive event near its Utah headquarters.

Every year, millions of sportsmen and women venture into the field to hunt. While advances in technology have spurred a record-breaking proliferation of rifle and handgun suppressors, shotgun owners have been without a real solution for sound protection. Some choose hearing protection in the form of earmuffs or plugs for relief in controlled environments, but most spurn their use in the field or in a home protection scenario, where the ability to detect other sounds is critical.

The new product, named the Salvo 12, provides a much needed option for shooting enthusiasts.

“The Salvo 12 represents a revolution in silencers, not just an evolution,” asserts Joshua Waldron, Chief Executive Officer for SilencerCo. “There is a huge installed base of shotgun hunters and shooters that has been waiting for a product like this for a long time, and we are proud to deliver it.”

In addition to its inherent novelty, the Salvo 12 is a modular design that allows the shooter to add or remove sections to balance length, weight and sound suppression needs. It arrives as a 12 inch suppressor, but can be reduced to 10, 8 and 6 inch configurations as needed.

For SilencerCo, answering the call for new products is nothing new. Since its origins in a Utah garage in 2008, the company has earned a fiercely loyal customer base by pioneering much-needed advances such as this. Among many others, its first and best-selling product, the Sparrow 22, is the quietest and easiest-to-clean rimfire suppressor on the market. The Osprey pistol suppressor still holds the only eccentric design in existence, allowing the host gun to maintain a flat sight plane.

Adding value to the sale, the Salvo 12 will carry with it the same celebrated lifetime warranty as all other SilencerCo products. To learn more or to find out how to purchase a SilencerCo Salvo 12, visit www.silencerco.com/salvo.

About SilencerCo:

Founded in West Valley, Utah in 2008, SilencerCo started with a belief in the fundamental premise that firearms don’t have to be loud and has now become the market leader in sound suppressors, muzzle devices, and related products. By investing in innovation, customer service, organic manufacturing, advocacy, education, and talent, SilencerCo is now focused on making firearms hearing safe for all hunting and shooting applications, making products that have never been made before, and making the buying experience a better one.

Lee’s note: This is pretty special. TrackingPoint just released this video, which shows a combat-wounded U.S. Marine — who was blinded in both eyes by an IED — hunting with a spotter thanks to TrackingPoint technology.

Here’s the release:

Michael Jernigan, a 3rd generation marine, did his part to serve our country, but his service didn’t come without a price. In a six month period he was hit by 3 roadside bombs. Michael was blinded, losing the use of both his eyes, he needed to have his left knee reconstructed, his right hand reconstructed, and 2 fingers reattached.

Jernigan underwent 30 major surgeries over 12 months, spending 16 months in hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Since recovering, Jernigan has been working with a veterans nonprofit group, and continued to pursue a lifelong passion for hunting.

In this video, Jernigan first takes a few experimental shots at a firing range using a TrackingPoint Precision Guided Firearm. Assisted only by a spotter providing directions from a tablet that shows the video streaming from his PGF’s scope, Jernigan precisely hits the target from several hundred yards away.

Later, Jernigan uses the PGF to hunt for Blackbuck on the Broken Spur Ranch in Texas. The hunt finishes with a dramatic, ethical one-shot harvest of a trophy animal from over 300 yards, again assisted only with verbal commands, from a spotter viewing streaming video from the PGF on the tablet. “It enables me to do something I essentially wouldn’t be able to do on my own,” Jernigan says of the experience, “it brings a lot of peace and well-being into my life.”

Lee’s note: TrackingPoint certainly owns the “wow factor” for new firearms technology. Their latest creation is simply stunning — eye wear that allows the shooter to engage a target from behind cover, without exposing anything more than the weapons muzzle to the threat, while non-shooters can track what the rifleman is viewing on their iPads or iPhones.

I can’t wait to shoot this!

Here’s the firm’s latest release:

TrackingPoint, the worldwide leader in advanced firearms technology, has released a video from their Labs department that demonstrates the use of wearable technology along with a Precision Guided Firearm (PGF). PGF technology makes use of a bevy of sensors to make highly accurate ballistic calculations, taking into account wind, elevation, pressure, and more in real time. TrackingPoint’s PGFs enable shooters to lock on and accurately hit moving targets at up to 1200 yards. The video showcases the companies R&D testing of their ShotView streaming app for mobile devices, paired with consumer wearable technology.

When paired with wearable technology, PGFs can provide unprecedented benefits to shooters, such as the ability to shoot around corners, from behind low walls, and from other positions that provide exceptional cover. Without PGF technology, such positions would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to fire from.

The video demonstrates how wearable technology could enhance a shooter’s ability to engage targets on the battlefield. Similar to a fighter jet’s head’s-up display (HUD), the wearable PGF technology provides the shooter with visual aids to improve the aiming and shooting process. TrackingPoint’s ShotView system can be used to stream video to smartphones or tablets. With wearable technology, the ShotView system could be even more tightly integrated into the shooting experience.

Through the PGF’s ShotView video stream on the HUD, the shooter can easily see such important variables as range to target, shot angle, rifle cant, compass direction, battery life, and zoom setting, all without looking away or diverting their attention. Clearly, the advent of wearable technology has unlocked the potential for firearms to be used in all new ways.

TrackingPoint is an Austin, Texas based applied technology company specializing in integrating advanced technology into battle-proven firearms. TrackingPoint PGFs use jet fighter lock and launch technology to ensure small arm accuracy at great distances. Available now, TrackingPoint’s AR series and long-range bolt-action rifles enable even novice shooters to hit targets with pinpoint accuracy out to 1200 yards. TrackingPoint has shipped hundreds of PGFs to hunters and sport shooters around the country.

Mike Young, of Young’s Guns & Safety, shows off Black Rain Ordnance’s new single-stage drop-in trigger (right). The DIT has a 3.5 pound pull and the shortest reset on the market. It retails for $199 and according to Mike is a â€œreal game changer.â€ (May 16, 2014; Herald-Tribune staff photo by Mike Lang)

The DIT has a 3.5 pound pull and the shortest reset I have ever seen. As a matter of fact, I started giggling after dry firing and resetting the trigger. There’s barely any travel at all before it resets.

This time of year, for those of us who couldn’t make the SHOT Show, it’s hard to even open the email account. It’s chock full of new firearms, new products and new accessories – all being seen for the first time in Las Vegas.

Unfortunately, I’m knee deep in a project and couldn’t go – snivel factor is high – pegged into the red.

Every year, one or two products always draw the majority of the industry buzz. This year, of course, it’s the Glock 42, and a new sub-compact from Remington.

With so much hype focused on the new diminutive pistols, it’s easy for an innovative idea to slip through the cracks.

The most impressive thing I’ve seen appear in the inbox is a new flashlight from Streamlight – a handheld light cannon that boasts an unbelievable 1,1oo lumens.

Maybe it’s the ex-cop in me that’s the cause for my fixation on flashlights. It seems you could never have a light that’s bright enough, until now that is.

For those unfamiliar with the lumen method of light measurement, 200-250 lumens will disorient an assailant at night, causing him to lose his night vision, 500 lumens is scary and 1,100 lumens, well… it should peel flesh from the bones. I’d be surprised if the flashlight doesn’t recoil when switched on.

I’ll be ordering one, especially with an MSRP of only $155. If it’s half as reliable as the other Streamlight products I own, especially their TRL-1, it will be money well spent.

ProTac HL® 3, a high lumen (HL) light that delivers 1,100 lumens of bright white light. Designed for operations requiring maximum illumination, the programmable, lithium battery-powered flashlight is the brightest addition yet to the company’s series of HL (High Lumen) lights.

“The ProTac HL 3 uses the latest in power LED technology to provide wide, sweeping scene lighting,” said Streamlight Vice President, Sales and Marketing, Michael F. Dineen. “One of the brightest tactical lights available in its size, it’s the perfect carry light for tactical users when clearing scenes; for outdoor enthusiasts when navigating a dark trail; or for industrial workers when flooding a work area with light. At the same time, the ProTac HL 3 goes the distance with its strong, focused beam.”

The new light uses a C4® LED to deliver 1,100 lumens, and 36,000 candela over a beam distance of 379 meters on the high setting. On low, the light offers 35 lumens, 1,200 candela and a beam distance of 69 meters. The light also offers a strobe mode.

The ProTac HL 3, powered by three (3) 3-volt CR123A batteries, features a multi-function, push-button tail switch that permits one-handed operation. The light’s TEN-TAP® programmable switch allows users to select from high/strobe/low (the factory default); high only; or low/high. Its run time both on high and in strobe mode is 1.5 hours, while the run time for the low setting is 36 hours.

Fabricated from machined aircraft aluminum, the ProTac HL 3 is 7.10 inches in length and weighs 9.3 ounces. The light has an IPX7 rated design for waterproof operation to one meter for 30 minutes, and is impact resistance-tested to one meter. It is packaged with a removable pocket clip and holster.

Available in black, the ProTac HL 3 has an MSRP of $155.00 and includes Streamlight’s Limited Lifetime Warranty.

Based in Eagleville, PA, Streamlight, Inc. recently marked 40 years of making tough, durable, long-lasting flashlights designed to serve the specialized needs of professionals and consumers alike. Since 1973, the company has designed, manufactured and marketed high-performance flashlights, and today offers a broad array of lights, lanterns, weapon light/laser sighting devices and scene lighting solutions for professional law enforcement, military, firefighting, industrial, automotive, and outdoor applications. Streamlight is an ISO 9001:2008 certified company. For additional information, please call 800-523-7488 or visit www.streamlight.com.

Lee’s note: This just arrived from TrackingPoint – the firm’s much anticipated AR series of smart rifle, which retail for 1/3 of the cost of it’s .338 Lapua Magnum rifle.

Three new precision guided firearms allow the novice shooter to engage long range targets with semi-automatic rifle speed.

TrackingPoint™, creator of the world’s first Precision Guided Firearm (PGF) system, today announced the debut of the TrackingPoint 500 Series ARs for the modern sporting rifle market at ShowStoppers @ CES 2014 in Las Vegas. The three PGF rifles, offered in 7.62, .300 BLK and 5.56 calibers, incorporate the company’s ground breaking Tag Track Xact technology, accurately locking onto and hitting moving targets at distances up to 500 yards.

With stabilized target selection, target tracking and guided firing the 500 Series semi-automatic AR products enable anyone to be an expert marksman out to the 500 yard effective range of the firearm, even from difficult firing positions, such as kneeling, standing or even lying beneath an automobile.

“TrackingPoint is excited to be able to expand and adapt its TTX technology for the AR semi-automatic market. For the first time, AR enthusiasts will be able to make fast and accurate shots on moving targets out to five football fields away,” said John Lupher, TrackingPoint CEO. “We expect not only strong demand for the 500 Series AR products, but also a growing demand for our technology across the industry.”

Introductory pricing of the 500 Series models begin at $9,950. Orders are currently being taken for TrackingPoint AR products, with delivery starting in October, 2014. You can apply to purchase the new product at tracking-point.com/apply-now

About TrackingPoint

TrackingPoint based in Austin Texas created the first smart rifles known as precision guided firearms. Smart rifles utilize jet fighter lock-and-launch technology enabling anyone to engage targets at extreme ranges. Smart rifles dramatically enhance the hunting and shooting sports experience while delivering a powerful tactical advantage to military and law enforcement organizations. www.tracking-point.com

Lee’s note: The Liberty Safe company has eliminated its annual monitoring fee for their SafElert system. I think the SafElert is one of the best accessories to hit the market in decades. For those unfamiliar with the product, it costs around $200, takes up little room in your gun safe, connects to your WiFi and alerts you via text or email when there’s an intrusion, movement, high humidity or fire. Now, there’s no annual fee.

Here’s the release:

Liberty Safe Announces Free Monitoring for SafElert

Earlier this year, Liberty Safe and Elertus joined forces to develop the SafElert monitoring system. SafElert is one of the most innovative security devices to hit the market in years. The wireless device is placed inside the safe to monitor the status. The device connects to the Wi-Fi in your home or office, and will send notifications via email or text if any unexpected changes occur.

Now, Liberty is doing something rarely offered in the monitoring service business— it has eliminated the annual monitoring fee. This means that once the device is purchased, e-monitoring services will be free for the life of the unit.

“People have enough monthly fees to worry about, we didn’t want to add to it,” said Kim Waddoups, Liberty Safe CEO. “We determined that our customers would be best served if we could offer this great service with no fees attached. We are pleased to announce that SafElert now comes with free monitoring service at no cost to our customers.”

SafElert gives owners the power to monitor the status of their safes from their electronic devices. Should someone open the door, move the safe, or tamper with it, the SafElert system immediately sends an alert to the owner’s cell phone, email, or other connected devices. Up to five different people can receive alerts of any changes. It also monitors the temperature and humidity inside the safe.

Bottom line: when customers buy a SafElert device ($199), they will receive automatic e-monitoring and alerts for free. Liberty Safes has the best warranty in the business, and now it has the best security monitoring to go with it. Valuables have never been more secure.

I shoot frequently – almost religiously, for more than 30 years – and have the lead levels, hearing loss and empty bank account to prove it.

By comparison, my good friend Mike Lang, the H-T’s photo director, has been shooting for less than a year, and has had little formal firearms training other than a basic pistol course.

Now, thanks to Tracking Point‘s Precision Guided Firearm, Mike can shoot just as well as me, at distances out to 1,200 yards.

It’s almost not fair – just the edge you want in a gunfight or a trophy hunt.

Wednesday, at the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s massive range complex, we were each snapping off head-shots at 300 yards – the far limits of the LEO sniper range – with Tracking Point’s XS1 – their flagship weapon system chambered for .338 Lapua Mag.

It is an impressive weapon system – a true game changer. Simply put, it will not let you miss.

First off, the Tracking Point demo team could not have been more hospitable – gentlemen all. They’re traveling this week, showing off their rifles to law enforcement and dealers at rifle ranges throughout southwest Florida. They’re on a tight schedule. Mike and I really appreciate the time they were able to spend with a couple journalists who were high on interest but lacked the $27,500 needed to buy one of their rifles.

Tracking Point, the guys were quick to point out, is not a firearms company. It is an applied technology firm. Most of their employees are engineers – the PhD type – which shows in their product. However, they’ve got enough shooters and snake-eaters on staff to make sure their designs actually work, and boy do they work.

The XS1 package features a Surgeon rifle, Krieger barrel, Harris bi-pod and an adjustable folding stock. It’s also got a decent brake that, along with the rifle’s 20.35-pound loaded weight, do a pretty good job at taming the .338’s recoil.

Before we hit the range, I was a bit leery about pulling the trigger on a .338 Lapua Magnum and not knowing exactly when it would go off.

These concerns were unwarranted.

The operating system is so simple and so intuitive, one or two dry-firings and I was ready to go hot.

The heart of the system is the “network tracking scope,” which can zoom from 6X-35X and calculates 20 ballistic variables 54 times per second. I struggle to name more than a dozen ballistic variables.

The only variable the shooter needs to input manually is wind speed, at distance. Given that we were shooting a .338 Lapua Magnum at only 300 yards, nearly a point-black shot for the round, we didn’t bother inputting wind speed. Hurricane-force winds would not have been a concern.

All the shooter does is align the reticle onto the target and press the “tag” button located on the trigger guard. This marks the target with a “tag” – a dot visible only to the shooter.

Then, the shooter pulls the trigger and holds it to the rear, while aligning the reticle to the tag dot. Once the proper alignment is achieved, a process that comes naturally to any long-distance shooter, the rifle fires. After a couple rounds, you will know when the rifle will fire.

This system works on stationary and moving targets. If the shooter tags a mover, the computer calculates the offset needed to hit the target – at distance.

Right now, Tracking Point offers three models: the XS1 in .338 Lapua and the XS2 and XS3, which are both chambered for .300 Winchester Mag.

The firm has several other weapon systems and calibers in development, but I was asked to keep them confidential. They will be unveiled at the next SHOT Show.

For now, the scope is daylight only, although there are IR and thermal imaging plans in the works. It’s not submersible, which would be a concern for certain military operators. As time goes on I’m sure the device will get smaller and more rugged.

The ammunition itself bears mention. End users need to buy their ammunition from Tracking Point – $7.50 per round for .338 Lapua – in order to maximize the system. The rounds, which are made for Tracking Point by Barnes Bullets, are guaranteed to be within +/- 10 fps standard deviation at the muzzle. That’s better than any standard military match round.

I purposefully avoided coffee before we hit the range, another mistake. The scope is stabilized with internal gyroscopes, which is the only way a shooter can stay on target if they are dialed in at 36X. Thirty cups of espresso would not have screwed up my aim.

Tracking Point’s Scott Calvin said he’s known of several senior shooters, including one with Parkinson’s Disease, who have returned to the sport because of this feature.

“It’s brought them back,” he said. “They’re shooting again.”

Tim Davis, a former Texas State Trooper and federal agent now in charge of the firm’s LEO and military sales, has taken the rifle to several SWAT competitions.

It’s given him an unfair advantage – cold-bore hits at distance.

“There’s talk of banning it from some competitions,” he said with a wide grin.

One of the things that sets the firm apart is their collaboration with some of the country’s best knife makers and designers: Pat Crawford, Allen Elishewitz and James Williams, a former Army officer and police trainer who designed my favorite CRKT knife, the Hissatsu.

Williams drew upon his sword making and martial arts background to create the Hissatsu, which CRKT cautions is “intended for us only by trained law enforcement and military tactical team professionals.”

I own fixed blade and folding models. They’re fearsome weapons – something you realize about two seconds after you heft one.

Columbia River Knife & Tool Special Forces and M21.Photo by Carla Varisco-Williams

CRKT makes a model for any need, tactical knives, skinners, hunting knives, multi-tools and a host of accessories.

Some of their detractors have pointed out that while the knives are designed here, they’re made overseas. I don’t care. The firm’s quality control is sound. They’re products have never let me down.

I’ve rocked kydex holsters almost exclusively for the past 15 years, from the time I picked up a Bladetech ‘scabbard’ for my Glock 26. For those of you late coming in, kydex is a PVC thermoplastic that comes in sheets and is easy to form into holsters , mag pouches, knife sheaths and other similar gear holders. It is chemically inert, sturdy, holds its shape, is easy to work with and inexpensive. I also feel there is a certain cosmic balance to carrying a plastic gun in a plastic holster.

While all of those are positive features, the one thing kydex isn’t, is pretty. You’re never going to look at a kydex holster and say: “Oh! That’s gorgeous!”. Kydex doesn’t have the warm look or feel of leather and kydex is not as comfortable to wear against the body as leather.

I just had the opportunity to review a couple of leather holsters from R. Grizzle Leather. The models that I worked with were the ‘Working Man’, an outside the waistband, strong side holster and the “Town and Country II”, an inside the waistband holster. Both were set up for 1.5” belts and have muzzle back cants.

The first thing that struck me was that these two holsters are beautiful! The materials are first rate with no flaws. The workmanship is likewise flawless. No scratches, over runs, missed or loose stitching.

Next I checked the fit. Both of the holsters fit the gun perfectly to the point that the pistol almost ‘snapped’ into place. While snug, the fit is not so tight that you needed extraordinary effort to draw the gun.

Both holsters allow a full firing grip. Both also held the pistol securely, even when I held them inverted and shook them. Two critical factors in a holster meant for serious use.

When ordering a holster from R. Grizzle, you can customize it to your preferences regarding width of belt loops and cant. It is important that your holster matches your belt so it stays in place and is properly supported. Being able to order either a forward cant or a straight drop gives you a holster that fits your preferred position on the belt line.

The Working Man is an outside the waistband sheath based on the Bruce Nelson

“Professional” holster. I first used a Professional to hold a Colt 1911a1 while attending a course at Gunsite back in ’92. This design allows the comfortable carrying of a full sized pistol all day long. While it is an OWB holster, it conceals well under a light weight garment, due to the extra belt loop on the trailing edge, which pulls the butt of the pistol in towards the body.

The Working Man is a very good copy of the Professional, with an important addition: a reinforcement band around the mouth of the holster. This keeps the mouth open and allows easy one hand holstering. Working some draws with the Working Man, I was able to easily get a full firing grip and present the gun on target quickly and smoothly. Reholstering with one hand was easily accomplished. The ‘Working Man’ sells for $90.00.

The Town and Country 2, an inside the waistband holster (IWB) is priced at $115.00. Inside the waistband holsters have an advantage in concealed carry because a large portion of the gun is hidden inside your pants. Your covering garment has to ride a lot further up before anyone can see your pistol. The downside is you need a little extra room inside the waistline of your trousers to accommodate the gun. I have to buy pants 2” larger to comfortably use an IWB holster.

The Town and Country showed the same good looks and fine craftsmanship that I found on

The “Town and Country” holster by R. Grizzle Leather. Photo by Peter Burlingame

the Working Man. This version had a sharkskin accent around mouth. While very attractive, it is a little bit abrasive when worn against bare skin.

The belt loops it came with are meant for 1.5” belts, but they are easily swapped out for the narrower 1.25” loops, which you can order for an extra $10.00. The loops are widely spaced which gives the holster good stability and distributes the weight of the pistol over a longer area of your belt.

The Town and County 2 is different from the regular Town and Country by having a reinforcing metal band around the mouth of the holster, covered by a second piece of leather. This is an important feature for those that train frequently. When you draw your pistol from an IWB holster, your belt will collapse the holster, making it difficult to reholster your gun. The reinforcement band keeps the mouth open so you can easily put the gun away with one hand only.

I had not heard of R Grizzle Leather before, as I am primarily focused on kydex holsters. To say I was favorably impressed is an understatement. Great designs and excellent workmanship combined with beautiful materials add up to a functional and beautiful piece of gear that you will be proud to wear. Check out these and many other products at rgrizzleleather.com

Disciplina Renumenor Fidelis!

Peter Burlingame is a nationally recognized instructor in the dynamic use of firearms. In addition to running his own school, The Self Defense Initiative, based on St Thomas, in the Virgin Islands, he also volunteers his services providing instructor development classes for the International Association of Firearms Instructors and the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. You may contact him at via email.

Simple Green, a degreaser, is one of the best non-toxic gun cleaning products on the market. Photo by Carla Varisco-Williams.

If you shoot frequently, gun cleaning can become drudgery.

Over the years I’ve always searched for the one, true, miracle gun-cleaning product.

I have tried all of the sprays and aerosols that have cropped up recently. While some do cut through carbon and gunk better than others, they’ve usually got fumes that are so strong you can’t use them indoors, or you’ll forget your wife’s name.

A few years ago, a gunsmith tipped me to Simple Green. It’s a general purpose cleaner and degreaser, which is non-toxic, non-aerosol and can safely be used indoors.

I fill a plastic bowl with hot water, spray in some cleaner and go to work. For more gunked-up parts, I’ll spray then with the cleaner over the bowl, brush them as I would with a regular solvent and rinse them in the bowl.

Here’s one important note, since you’re using water on your firearm, you will want to use canned air or an air compressor to make sure you get all of the moisture out of the nooks and crannies of you gun, and then lubricate with a CLP.

Let me know if this works for you.

Simple Green works better than most gun cleaning aerosols, without any of the toxic fumes. Photo by Carla Varisco-Williams.

Clay Clips are one of those new “gee, why didn’t I think of that” products.

A sturdy piece of stainless steel wire that locks securely on clay pigeons of various sizes. The pigeon can then be hung on a cardboard target, or suspended from a piece of string and engaged with a pistol or a carbine, or a shotgun of course.

They are reusable, and remain stuck in the cardboard after the pigeon shatters.

The main benefit of reactive targets is the immediate feedback the shooter receives – hit or miss.

This is one of the best holders I’ve seen for shooting clay targets with a handgun.

A California company has introduced a device that allows you to activate, or deactivate, your handgun with your cell phone.

I’m still trying to figure out how to turn off the alarm on my Droid.

These type of devices – smart gun technology – have never really worked well.

Over the years, companies have tried to link smart guns to a special watch or ring, to render the firearm inoperative if the shooter wasn’t wearing the right jewelry.

The danger comes when lawmakers start thinking the technology is a good idea.

It’s better to have smart gun owners than smart guns.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (AP) — A high-tech startup is wading into the gun control debate with a cellphone controller that would allow gun owners to know when their weapon is being moved — and disable it remotely.

There’s no actual gun yet, but the technology from Yardarm Technologies LLC comes at a time when lawmakers around the U.S. are considering contentious smart gun laws that would require new guns to include high-tech devices that limit who can fire them.

The Yardarm system would add about $50 to the cost of a gun, and about $12 a year for the service.

The National Rifle Association says it is concerned about added costs and the reliability of smart guns in general. Officials at the organization said they weren’t familiar with Yardarm.

When Ed Dittus, co-owner of Bates & Dittus, asked if I was interested in test firing some of his 37mm ordinance launchers, I couldn’t refuse. I knew it was going to be a grand time.

Ed and his wife Pieper recently moved to Florida from Connecticut. They live on a large acreage so there’s plenty of room to test fire their products.

Bates & Dittus, LLC is a privately held Connecticut-based company that makes about the best 37mm ordinance launchers currently available. The company was formed four years ago, when George Bates showed Ed Dittus one of his launchers. Bates is a master gunsmith, but had no marketing experience. Ed had his own marketing firm. It was the perfect match.

Their clients include U.S. and foreign police and military, but sales to individuals have also been brisk, because you can purchase one of his launchers without an FFL transfer. There are no licenses or paperwork required to buy their products in Florida and most states, but check local ordinances.

“Sales have been great,” Ed said. “The only impediment has been a shortage of product.”

Walking into his office, which could qualify as a firearms museum, you know he’s a man who has a passion for weaponry. There’s a working Hotchkiss Gun – a breech-loading cannon – plus halberds, cutlasses, rapiers, a mace and other cutlery. There are also plenty of black guns.

Ed began pulling out a selection of Bates & Dittus launchers, describing their unique features and handing them over one at a time. Soon, the entire sofa was covered with the weapons.

Products – At the top of the B&D product line is the ExD-37. It’s constructed out of 6061 aircraft grade aluminum and 4140 hardened steel, and comes with either a 12″ or 16″ barrel. It’s a top break design, similar to a shotgun. The barrel release is on the right side of the weapon. It features a DAO trigger, with a long 15-pound pull – it’s not a sniper rifle. The benefit of the DAO trigger is that the shooter can squeeze a second time if they experience a FTF. This is a handy feature since some of the non-mil-spec 37mm ammunition on the market today uses imported shotgun primers of questionable reliability.

It is festooned with top and bottom rails along the length of the barrel, available in 12″ or 16″, and features a single-action trigger and exposed hammer. Trigger pull is lighter and more crisp than the ExD-37.

The action closes with a solid-feeling “thunk.”

Bates & Dittus also produces a pistol launcher, the SML-37, and the under-barrel UBL-37, which is similar in design to the 40mm M-203, to include the horizontal Teflon fore grip and side-mounted slide release.

Ammunition – There are two classes of 37mm ammunition: rounds available to civilians and those sold only to military or law enforcement. Typically, Dittus said civilian ammo consists of smoke, flares and “breakers,” which launch a pyrotechnic-type explosive that creates a loud report but produces no shrapnel.

Military and police rounds consist of CS/CN/OC gas rounds and several types of less-lethal projectiles.

B&D also manufactures adapters that slide into the weapon’s barrel, and allow the shooter to use 26.5mm and 12 gauge flares, smoke and other rounds.

Lately, 26.5mm ammunition from Eastern Europe is easy to find on the surplus market, priced between $8-$10 per round.

Range report – If you don’t have an extra $400-$700 in your bank account, do not shoot one of B&D’s launchers. They’re addictive. We launched flares, smoke and breakers – the best bang for the buck.

Recoil is minimal, due to the low-pressure and lack of rifling.

The 37mm breakers traveled about 100 yards before exploding with a resounding boom. The 26.5mm flares traveled much farther before bursting into an intense bright-blue light, clearly visible even during a sunny day. The smoke rounds produced enough yellow and red smoke to easily serve as emergency signals.

There was one FTF, which involved the aforementioned hard shotgun primers. There were no issues involving the weapons, which functioned flawlessly.

I was surprised by the accuracy of the smoke rounds, which Ed could place on target at 75 yards.

Takeaways – Thousands of B&D’s launchers are already in use with law enforcement SWAT teams, as well as military and paramilitary units around the world.

They’re perfect for boaters who want the capability to deliver both a loud, violent warning to any uninvited boarders, as well as smoke and flares in the event of an at-sea emergency.

The launchers can fill a niche for wildlife management. Tactical shooters will love them, especially the under-barrel mounted UBL-37.

I have used several types of ordinance launchers, both 37mm and 40mm. These are beyond mil-spec – without a doubt some of the best I have seen.

How many times will you need to shoot the person that is attacking you? I don’t know. You don’t know. We’ll find out. But if you think you know that number now, ahead of time, you are setting yourself up for failure.

Always firing the same predetermined number of rounds while you are practicing is setting up a conditioned response that may or may not be appropriate to the emergency. A case in

Pulling this pin lets the target fall all the way over when hit. Photo by Peter Burlingame.

point is the ‘double tap’. The firing of two shots quickly and stopping to assess is a holdover from the days when revolvers ruled. It helped with ammo management. You knew you had 3 double taps in your pistol.

But there is a real good chance that two (or three or four) shots will not be enough to stop a real threat. The question is how do you train realistically? How will you know how many shots to fire and when to stop shooting in an actual situation?

Very useful training tools to address the question of how many shots to fire in training are ‘reactive targets’. The best of these targets will react when hit properly, but won’t register poor shooting. How many times will you need to shoot? If you rush and don’t aim, and hit the wrong place, you will need to keep shooting. Stay cool, aim as much as appropriate, put the bullets into the right place and the target reacts, rewarding your diligence. (remember that you have to balance the speed/accuracy equation.

Some reactive target systems use an inflated balloon placed in the ‘vital zone’ of a target to support the target, which is usually made of cardboard. Often a tee shirt is placed over it to add a bit of realism. If you miss the balloon, nothing happens and you need to keep shooting. Hitting the balloon will result in the target falling to the ground. This teaches you to shoot well, and to keep shooting until you get the desired response from the target.

Pistol-rated plate showed no dimpling even after 100 rounds of 9mm and .40. Photo by Peter Burlingame.

While I was looking at all of the offerings at the vendor expo at the ILEETA conference in April 2013, I stopped by the Challenge Targets booth. I already have one of their excellent hostage situation targets, but I was interested in a new target that I hadn’t seen before, their ‘Multifunctional Target’

The ‘Multifunctional Targets’ can be used for very realistic reactive training. The target consists of a bent steel stand with a hinged receptacle that is sized to hold a 2”x4” and two 1”x2”s. At the top of the 2×4 is a steel plate, which is the target. The hinge has two setting with one, the target will rock back a few inches and then reset to its normal position, or, if you remove a pin, the target will rotate all the way back until it hits the ground.

A bracket holds two 1x2s in front of the steel target. A cardboard silhouette or plastic 3D target can be attached to them. When set up properly, the steel plate is located directly behind the vital zone of the cardboard or plastic target. Hit the target in the right place and the bullet will strike the steel plate, making the target react.

As I’ve said, you can set it up so the target rocks back and forth a few inches when the steel is hit. In this mode, you get feedback for good hits, but you don’t need to constantly reset the target. Personally I prefer to set it up to fall all the way over as it gives a more realistic response which is important in training.

The basic operation of the Multifunctional Target is very similar to the venerable Pepper Popper and like the Popper it can be adjusted with a set screw. The further forward you make the target lean, the harder it is to make it fall over when hit by a bullet, requiring hitting it with a larger caliber gun, or rapid, multiple shots to drive the target over.

Student gets off the X and engages the reactive target. Photo by Peter Burlingame.

For our first test drive we set the Multifunctional Target up with a Tactical Ted 3D plastic torso attached to the 1×2 strips, so that the steel plate was directly behind the upper chest of Ted. One advantage to using the 3D target is that allows you to engage at an angle so you aren’t always shooting at a full frontal presentation of the target.

However, if you plan on shooting the target from an angle be sure to set it up so that steel plate is no more than 4”-5” behind the target, otherwise well aimed shots will miss the plate and the target will fail to react.

We initially set the target so that even a hit from a .22LR would knock it over. The basic drill was on the start signal, to move laterally while drawing and engaging the target, shooting it as many times as necessary for it to fall to the ground.

How many times will that be? I don’t know. You don’t know, we’ll find out. As the crew all ran the drill multiple times we learned by immediate feedback whether we were being diligent enough or if we needed to slow down slightly and pay a bit of attention to the sights. “Don’t shoot faster, shooter better” was heard by several students amidst their rapid fire misses.

Once every got the hang of engaging the target, I adjusted the forward lean so it would take two hits of 9mm and 8-10 .22LR to knock the target over. Now you not only had to hit the target well, but control the recoil so you could hit it again while the target was still moving backwards. If you waited too long the target would return to leaning forward again.
What a great training aid!

The Multifunctional Target is light weight, easy to set up, easy to adjust, has lots of versatility and gives that all important immediate feedback which is critical to performance training. The unit that I used was the 8” Training Target – Heavy Base with Target Holder – Handgun rated (code PS-HD-TH-8-H) which retails for $194.00. What a bargain!

The 8” handgun rated plate was hit just about 150 times in our training session, hit with .22LR, 9mm, and .40SW. The plate showed no damage whatsoever. Good stuff! If you are serious about your training and want to avoid training scars like always firing a predetermined number of rounds, Challenge Target’s Multifunctional Target is highly recommended.

Disciplina remuneror fidelis!

Peter Burlingame is the founder of The Self Defense Initiative, a 25 year old training school based in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Peter is a contributing member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Firearms Instructors and the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association. His articles have been published in the FBI’s National Associates’ magazine, “The Firearms Instructor” and “Survival Quarterly.” You may contact him at vigunfighter@earthlink.net Videos at Youtube.com/vigunfighter.com

The target is positioned so the steel plate is in the vital area. Photo by Peter Burlingame.

The first sling I ever used was a nylon piece of crap with a noisy aluminum buckle that did nothing more than keep an M-16 snuggled to my shoulder when we went on long strolls through the Georgia countryside.

Times have certainly changed, thanks mostly to the tactical shooting explosion.

Like everything tactical, new types of weapons slings seem to appear almost every day.

one-point sling

For me, a sling on a tactical firearm is as important as the sights.

You need a sling when you transition from carbine to pistol, when you have to put your hands on a bad guy, or during breaks in training.

A good tactical sling keeps the weapon accessible when you let go. Compared to the old nylon M-16 sling, or the leather M1907 model used on the m1903 Springfield and the Garand, they’re magic.

They keep the weapon correctly oriented with little conscious thought.

There are four basic types of tactical slings: one-point, two-point, three-point and new designs that are hybrids of one and two-point models.

The first tactical slings were a two-point model – somewhat longer than the traditional leather shoulder-holder. They were copies of field-expedient slings troopers made by cutting a piece of 550 cord to lengthen the crap they were issued.

two-point sling

Then, HK introduced a three-point sling, which first appeared on the Mp-5. Once shooters figured out how to wear the thing, they were copied by other manufacturers.

Now, anyone taking a carbine class has to “hang” their M4 from a one-point sling or risk ridicule.

Like nearly everything on the tactical market, shooter preference will determine which one works best for you.

I use all four models on different long guns, because different types seem to work better on different guns, given their varied weight and center of balance.

For example, I like a three-point on a fixed-stock carbine, but a two-point feels better on my under-folder.

Larry Vickers has several designs that truly revolutionized the concept.

A One-Box Drill – Even the best shooters will lose their edge if they don’t practice. Shooting skills are perishable and degrade quickly over time.

The scarcity and high price of ammo has forced some to turn to .22 long rifle lookalikes in lieu of their M4s, or sub-caliber adapters. Others have cut back on their range time, or stopped training altogether.

I don’t like any of these options.

Several instructors have come up with a one-box drill, a way to train that only requires one box of ammo, 50 rounds.

Here’s my one-box drill. Note: all magazines are loaded with five rounds. All magazine changes are done at combat speed. It requires one standard IPSC or similar target.

String Five: 10 yards, strong hand supported. (Note: this string requires the help of a shooting buddy. Have them load at least two empty cases in each magazine, interspersed between the live rounds.) Fire 5 rounds with two malfunction drills, reload, fire 5 rounds with two malfunction drills.

New Wrist-mounted tactical light – Surefire has done it again. Yesterday they revealed their new 2211 “Wristlight.” It’s a flashlight you wear like a watch that produces a max output of 180 lumens – a great amount of white light for any situation – although it’s adjustable for 60 or 15 lumens.

The beam is angled to point forward during any normal two-handed shooting stance, and it’s ambidextrous.

Run time at 180 lumens is an hour, but here’s the best part. It’s rechargeable. When the light needs to be charged, it comes with a USB cable. Just plug it in.

Why do you need one? Easy. Anyone who has ever had to clear a room or a building with a weapon-mounted light, in what Mr. Ayoob called the gravest extreme, eventually begins to wonder: When was the last time I changed the battery?

While Surefire’s new 2211 would work fine by itself, when paired with a weapon-mounted light it offers redundancy. Remember: One is none, two is one…

Here’s the only drawback. MSRP is around $500.

Check local knife ordinances – We take a lot for granted living here in the Gunshine State. We have world-class weather, great beaches, fantastic seafood and some of the best firearms laws in the country.

If you head north, however, be cautious. That knife clipped into your pocket could land you in jail.

While even some of the nanny states in the northeast have preemption laws regarding local firearms restrictions, knives are not firearms. Therefore, they are not covered by state preemption laws. As a result, any municipality can institute their own ordinance about that knife you feel naked without.

A fixed or lock blade is a FELONY in certain northeastern cities, as are automatic or spring-assisted knives.

Even if the blade does not lock or open with an assist, in some cities anything over three inches is illegal.

Be careful. Just because a state may offer reciprocity for your Florida Concealed Carry license, it doesn’t mean they allow you to carry a knife.

About the Gun Writer

Lee Williams — The Gun Writer — can’t remember a time in his life when he wasn’t shooting. Before becoming a journalist, Lee served in the Army and worked as a police officer. He’s earned a dozen national journalism awards as a reporter, and three medals of valor as a cop. He is an NRA-certified law enforcement firearms instructor, an avid tactical shooter and a training junkie.

When he’s not busy as an investigative reporter for the Herald-Tribune, he is usually shooting his AKs, XDs and CZs.